Background of the Literary Piece:

The Food of Paradise is made by Ibn Amjed, one of the most influential writters in the field of Arabian Literature. The story is considered as one of the most important masterpieces made. It tackles about the story of hope and faith in which deals with the divinity and religious beliefs towards Allah. This may be because of the culture on the Arabic lands whereas Allah is considered a great figure towards them. They have high respects on him and, thus, relating many stories that can be associated by his majesticness. It teaches also about conduct and how it the beliefs of the Moslem religion can be associated with each other. It is an evident fact because in the short story it mentions one of the teaching in the Quran wherein it states this passage: O Compassionate One, isnt this unjust? Why should Thy servant be burdened like an ass in the marketplace, which carries two panniers both filled to the top and stumbles at every blow of the drivers stick? Isnt it promised in the Koran, Allah will not anyone starve?

Summary:
The story took of with the introduction of the main character, Mullah Ibrahim, who taught the religious beliefs oof Islam to his Moslem students in the seminary being built by the Caliph. The work doesnt really pay-off for him. He, then, questioned the goodness of the Holy Allah and why does a diligent servant like him shall suffered. By this turn of events, Mullah Ibrahim left the seminary and took a journey away forthe City of Baghdad where he had lived all of his life. One day, Mullah fell asleep in a cozy and shady spot underneathe the wide tree of cypress beside a river. After he woke up early in the morning, a
Afro-Asian Literature | Reflection Paper| [The Parable of The Last Seat] 1

silence with such divine atmosphere lay upon him everything. Then, He asked himself that why are the birds of the air bring him food before the morning came, and yet he doesnt see it happening. And on the road above, people in the act doing holy pilgrims and travelers passed, but, inevitably, they ignored him. Hunger has crawled over his stomach and then he recalled with envy the millet and goats milk the mullahs would now be enjoying at the seminary he was teaching back then. Still he did not lose hope and continued to seek and grasp answers thru praying and go on with the journey. He slept again without eating, and woke up from that with no energy. When noon came, he saw something floating on the river. He got that and inside was the most deliciousa and delectable halwa, marzipan,a sweetmeat composed of sugar mixed with paste of almonds and attar of roses and other delicate essences. After some months, Ibrahim started to wonder where his daily ration of food came from. If he could trace the spot on the river where it was deposited, he might see a miracle. Curious to this, Ibrahim started out on a journey upstream one morning. On the fourth day of his journey, Ibrahim came upon a fair castle on an island in the midst of the river. There was a meadow and rich gardens around, interlaced by narrow streams. Beyond were the jagged peaks of great blue mountains. The castle itself was of white marbles, sculptured as ice. Its green and shady lawns sloped down to a silent and forlorn shore of golden sand. A hermit saw Ibrahim and they got acquainted. The hermit narrated to him the history of the castle. The next day, while at the riverbank, Ibrahim the Mullah saw a lady of exceeding beauty on the castle veranda overlooking the river. She threw something into the river and disappeared like a moon behind the clouds. His eyes followed the object she had thrown. It was the very package of leaves containing the halwa which he had been receiving daily. With these grateful thoughts, Ibrahim cast himself into a trance, for as a holy man he had acquired some knowledge of the magical art. His spirit walked in the land of
Afro-Asian Literature | Reflection Paper| [The Parable of The Last Seat] 2

the Jinns. There he met Adhem, one of the Jinns, who promised to aid him in breaking the magic spells of the castle. Ibrahim now tried to see the Princess. An old guard with a bared scimitar ushered him into a magnificent hall. There, upon a dais, sat the incomparable Princess whom he has seen from the castle veranda as she threw the package of halwa into the river. Before her, the Mullah knelt and told his tale. Nay, noble Lady, exclaimed Ibrahim, the delicious food with which you have fed me daily is reason enough for me to be grateful to you. That halwa which you cast every morning from your verandah and which floated down the stream I have eaten. Surely an angel from paradise must have put it into your hand to throw away. The Princess blushed so deeply that her face turned crimson, visible beneath her vill. Alas, good Mullah! she cried wringing her hands. What is this you tell me! Curses on the day on which I first threw that halwa, as you call it into the river. Know, that each morning, it is my custom to take a bath of milk, after which I anoint and rub my limbs with essence of almonds, sugar and sweet scented cosmetics. These, then, I remove from my nakedness and wrapping them in leaves, throw them into the river.Making up his mind in this way, he took the end of the bow in his mouth, and began to gnaw the sinew. But as soon as his teeth cut through the string, the bow tore through his palete, and came out of his head like a top-knot, and he gave up the ghost.

Afro-Asian Literature | Reflection Paper| [The Parable of The Last Seat]

Theme / Moral:
The theme of the whole short story is hope and faith towards our God. Sure it tackles about Allah and we filipinos are mostly Christians but the teaching is just as the same. We must have hope and faith to our God because when everything is at lost, He is the only one we can cling to. Also, it is more of a religious approach. And another thing, we should not question our one and only creator. It is better to do good works and just pray to God that he will guide us in every way and be more thankful than ever.

Highlights / Main Points:

Excessive greed should neer be cherished. Have greed but keep it moderate. The all too greedy jackal perished, A wooden top-knot on his pate. - This passage in the ending of the story. It tackles about greed and hot it is a bad habit to do. And says here that have greed but keep it moderate. The story does not tolerate about being greedy which is very interesting to know. I know it is a negative trait to have but in retrospect, all of us have their own greedy side. The fact is that excessiveness magnifies the negative trait that we have regardless of what it is.

Afro-Asian Literature | Reflection Paper| [The Parable of The Last Seat]

 A wise man doth the elixir of life, Circumspectly and slowly, and heedful. Thus enjoy thou the riches thoust won by the strife: Never at one time more than needful. - This passage is being tackled when the princess cried to Ibrahim with a wry face that stating that Allah, surely gives food to everyone; but its quality and kind are dictated by what man deserves. This may be cultural custom to the Mullahs or instructors of the Quran in which they believe Allah will provide everything they need (In which case, it is also a belief being shared by Christians and Catholics). This is also an insight wherein we can observe that wise men (like the protagonist) doth the elixir of life in which we can say that their beliefs can be associated to life and its wholeness. O Compassionate One, isnt this unjust? Why should Thy servant be burdened like an ass in the marketplace, which carries two panniers both filled to the top and stumbles at every blow of the drivers stick? Isnt it promised in the Koran, Allah will not anyone starve? - I included this a whileback on the background of the literary piece. This statement refers to the beliefs of the Moslem that Allah will not let anyone starve. It can be inferred that Allah will supply everything they need for it is the result of such good works. They are expecting that he will not take heed on their requests, desires, and everyday needs.

Afro-Asian Literature | Reflection Paper| [The Parable of The Last Seat]

Reaction:

a. Do you agree or disagree?

I agree on the literary piece about what it teaches in regards to hope and faith which is essential for everyones spiritual life. Nowadays, people to tend to say that this things are corny and doesnt believe on it anymore. But on me, it really did tackle on the normal beliefs of the believers of Allah and how it touched into my spiritual notion without being offended.

b. Other Comments:
Well, I am a Christian myself and I only have little knowledge on such things involving Allahs teachings and how it affects the culture that circulates on many Arabian Literature. This is a new fact to me and that this short story is very good as well as informative.

c. How do you find the truth in the piece?

There are religious beliefs in the story that is the same as my beliefs and so far it is not very offening. I dont really get annoyed when a story discusses this kind of topics as long as it is described good and is right. It was a good story but it can be confusing sometimes because of the chose of words being written.

Afro-Asian Literature | Reflection Paper| [The Parable of The Last Seat]